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Unaware of temporary tower due to major sporting event; BE40 has near midair collision with PA46 at normally uncontrolled dnl.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 733525 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200704 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : dnl.airport |
| State Reference | GA |
| Altitude | agl single value : 900 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Beechjet 400 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : traffic pattern approach : visual |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-46 Malibu |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : visual approach : traffic pattern |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 1100 |
| ASRS Report | 733525 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : nmac non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : took evasive action |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance FAA Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | procedure or policy : ags.tracon |
Narrative:
Dnl tower is open only during 'the masters.' the problem is that the NOTAM is buried with other radio tower information in the fdc NOTAMS. I checked NOTAMS before departure and did not see it. On handover from augusta approach I was told to proceed VFR and switch frequencys. Since this is such an unusual event (the frequency is not listed on the approach pages) it would help if approach controller passed this information on during handover. I was VFR on left base to runway 23 (VFR on unicom) while the other aircraft was on tower frequency and on right base to runway 29. We both saw each other and took evasive action. This was a dangerous event but both pilots were looking outside and avoided each other. Since augusta is so crowded during this time of year; I think the fact that a tower is open; only for 5 days; with an unpublished frequency; should be given a lot more publicity. Putting the tower NOTAM at the top of the NOTAMS and making it easier to read and understand would help a lot.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: UNAWARE OF TEMPORARY TWR DUE TO MAJOR SPORTING EVENT; BE40 HAS NMAC WITH PA46 AT NORMALLY UNCTLED DNL.
Narrative: DNL TWR IS OPEN ONLY DURING 'THE MASTERS.' THE PROB IS THAT THE NOTAM IS BURIED WITH OTHER RADIO TWR INFO IN THE FDC NOTAMS. I CHKED NOTAMS BEFORE DEP AND DID NOT SEE IT. ON HANDOVER FROM AUGUSTA APCH I WAS TOLD TO PROCEED VFR AND SWITCH FREQS. SINCE THIS IS SUCH AN UNUSUAL EVENT (THE FREQ IS NOT LISTED ON THE APCH PAGES) IT WOULD HELP IF APCH CTLR PASSED THIS INFO ON DURING HANDOVER. I WAS VFR ON L BASE TO RWY 23 (VFR ON UNICOM) WHILE THE OTHER ACFT WAS ON TWR FREQ AND ON R BASE TO RWY 29. WE BOTH SAW EACH OTHER AND TOOK EVASIVE ACTION. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS EVENT BUT BOTH PLTS WERE LOOKING OUTSIDE AND AVOIDED EACH OTHER. SINCE AUGUSTA IS SO CROWDED DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR; I THINK THE FACT THAT A TWR IS OPEN; ONLY FOR 5 DAYS; WITH AN UNPUBLISHED FREQ; SHOULD BE GIVEN A LOT MORE PUBLICITY. PUTTING THE TWR NOTAM AT THE TOP OF THE NOTAMS AND MAKING IT EASIER TO READ AND UNDERSTAND WOULD HELP A LOT.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.